My vegetarian decline

[Nuzzolese]

I was a vegetarian for almost 9 years. But I quit by gradually easing myself back into eating meat. And I couldn't be happier.

It started with fish, then I had BBQ chicken pizza and loved it. Then I had Thanksgiving turkey. So I ate nothing but fish and turkey and the occasional chicken snack wrap for a year. Then last Christmas I had ham and even suet - that's the hard fat around the kidneys of the cow. Then I even ate venison salami.

I don't even feel bad about it. Now I eat poultry and fish all the time and I think I look and feel better because of it. Ha!

[beastiegirrl101]

You didn't get sick? Why did you go back?

[Helvete]

Well done! Welcome back.

[Nuzzolese]

I started to wonder why I was still a vegetarian. I didn't feel as strong an aversion to meat anymore. I thought maybe I was still a vegetarian only because it was who I had said that I was, and I thought of it as part of my identity or something, and that I couldn't change now because I'd be some big hypocrit or a failure or I might seem wishy-washy or something.

But then I had to be honest with myself, and I thought "who cares if I let people down or confuse them? I can do whatever I want! It doesn't have to be all-or-nothing with meat. I don't have to have simple habits just to make things easier on other people." And just because I want to eat meat sometimes doesn't mean I can't choose an all vegetarian meal when I want one.

Also, I got tired of trying to come up with ways to flavor tofu and beans, it was such a chore trying to get enough protein! So if it doesn't bother me to eat it, why should I keep struggling with vegetarianism just because I think I have this social responsibility to be the same person for my whole life?

I still eat tofu a lot, but it's nice to have the variety of having fish, turkey, and chicken. I feel happier now allowing myself to try new things.

[rirv]

Welcome back.

[Nuzzolese]

The first nonfish meat that I ate after 9 years was the BBQ chicken pizza. I didn't get sick. I felt fantastic. It was SO delicious. My boyfriend had just had surgery and it was the first solid food he could have and he was craving it. It meant a lot to him that I ate it with him. It was a very special moment.

Now he says that he changed me. Perhaps that's another reason I resisted for so long. I thought that being a vegetarian was this thing I did for me, and yes it was a struggle but I didn't back down and I perservered and made it work. Perhaps I resisted changing because I just didn't want to look weak, didn't want to seem like someone without convictions or principles. But, that's all about appearances, isn't it? Principles for the sake of having principles are meaningless. You have to really believe in it.

[AceFace]

i don't think i could ever go back. it freaks me out just thinking about it. but i have strong reasons why i don't eat what i don't eat.

[Adam]

i don't think i could ever go back. it freaks me out just thinking about it. but i have strong reasons why i don't eat what i don't eat.

I'm exactly the same. I don't think I could stomach meat again. And I used to love it - been only about 8 years though.

You shouldn't of strayed back, the meat industry is so bad. A big cause towards climate change, the animals who suffer. I admit I eat dairy before any1 asks but I always buy organic - although I know that is still not great but y'know, we all have our weaknesses...

But to each their own and we all change with time so maybe one day I'll think screw it and eat some soggy meat kebab in a major loss of all sense. :p

[monkey]

i don't think i could ever go back. it freaks me out just thinking about it. but i have strong reasons why i don't eat what i don't eat.

ditto. and i've actually tried to put a meat product in my mouth and i just couldnt do it. no matter how good it smelled and how much i wanted to try it, i could not even close my mouth and chew it, i just spit it out.

i dont think there's a reason to feel bad for switching though, it's just a personal food choice. i get really annoyed by people who take my vegetarianism personally, because i don't take their meat eating personally. i couldn't care less what you eat. to each their own. if i were nuzz though, and my bf was telling me i changed because of him, i'd just be really condescending and tap his head saying "yes, yes, it's all because of you" and end it at that.

[Helvete]

Wow, what's with all the veggies here? There is definately a higher than average ratio of them to non here. WTF.

THIS CALLS FOR A POLL

[mickill]

I justify my consumption of meat by only eating animals I've killed with my own two hands. And Arby's.

[AceFace]

Arby's is my "OMG I WANT THAT SO BAD" food. i see an ad for beef and cheddar and my mouth starts watering.


OMG it's watering right now just typing this out!

[beastieangel01]

although it's a bit more pricey, one thing you can do is try to get humanely treated meats. I live in the bay area so that makes it really easy, especially since so many restaurants and grocery stores around here strictly carry that type of meat.

It makes me feel a little better about leaving behind my vegetarian ways. That and when there are no hormones in the meat it tastes way better. (y)

[Nuzzolese]

Yes, the process of the meat makes a huge difference. If I eat a clean, low fat, organic turkey I feel fine. If I eat turkey burgers from Ruby Tuesdays I feel pretty gross. Last Thanksgiving I had an Amish free range turkey. It was fantaaaastic, and the stuffing was seasoned with the turkey's neck. It was the best stuffing my mom's ever made. It might have been the turkey neck, it might not have been.

The suet was necessary in the plum pudding recipe. I wanted it to be authentic, and it was so amazingly delicious. Was it the suet? I don't know, but it was in there. Plum pudding is now my favorite thing in the world, god it was so good. I'm just going to gaze off for a while now and think about it.

[mickill]

Arby's is my "OMG I WANT THAT SO BAD" food. i see an ad for beef and cheddar and my mouth starts watering.


OMG it's watering right now just typing this out!

You should succumb to these desires. Nobody has to know. It could be your own little secret.

[beastieangel01]

Yes, the process of the meat makes a huge difference. If I eat a clean, low fat, organic turkey I feel fine. If I eat turkey burgers from Ruby Tuesdays I feel pretty gross. Last Thanksgiving I had an Amish free range turkey.

(y)

Niman Ranch is a really big supplier of this type of meat, but I guess Niman recently left (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/02/22/MNHM15ME01.DTL&type=business) and it looks like it might be different now :( ugh.

[NoFenders]

Ruby Tuesdays has some good burgers. I just found that out the other day.

[Nuzzolese]

Ruby Tuesdays puts a lot of fat on their burgers, even their turkey options.

[Kid Presentable]

What's an Arby?

[mickill]

An Arby (http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t283/CHUD_BUCKET/arbys.jpg)

[Kid Presentable]

They got McFlurry?

[NoFenders]

No, but they have the UnHappy Meal.

[mickill]

They got McFlurry?

Of course they do. They've also got Whoppers and popcorn chicken.

[Nuzzolese]

They got nachos bel grande?

[mickill]

Of course they do. They also got coq au vin. You can make it a combo with seasonal vegetables and their house sauvignon blanc for another couple of bucks.

[AceFace]

You should succumb to these desires. Nobody has to know. It could be your own little secret.
that goes through my mind every time i see the commercial.

but... i'm strong... i can resist!

[Dorothy Wood]

holy shit, I love arby's! too bad there are hardly any in this damn city. I don't like the beef sandwiches so much. I eat the turkey reuben and mozzarella sticks. omg, I want it now.

mmmeat.

[cosmo105]

just an aside, most americans get way too much protein anyway. i rarely worry about getting enough. it's more of a concern getting the essential micronutrients in a vegan diet.

that said, i think veganism is for me. it works great for me but not for everyone. i'm sticking with it. (y)

[Nuzzolese]

just an aside, most americans get way too much protein anyway. i rarely worry about getting enough. it's more of a concern getting the essential micronutrients in a vegan diet.
(y)

Most americans also supposedly enjoy American Idol and Desperate Housewives. I don't think I was getting enough protein because I was sick of sticking to the vegetarian sources of it.

[AceFace]

what do you mean by vegetarian sources?

[Nuzzolese]

what do you mean by vegetarian sources?

What do YOU mean by vegetarian sources??!!

[ET]

I remember the first time I had red meat was when I was 13. It wasn't a matter of being vegetarian, I just didn't like it until then.

I try to limit my intake and especially from places that process their products "improperly". Fortunately, I have a local meat market nearby.

[Lyman Zerga]

i don't think i could ever go back. it freaks me out just thinking about it. but i have strong reasons why i don't eat what i don't eat.

yeah, absolutely same here

i dont miss it at all

[beastiegirrl101]

It's been so long since I've had it that it's not even food anymore to me. It's a choice and I respect your choice to go back.